Live like a local

Duration

4 days (3 nights)

Starting

Airport PM

From

795 €

1. Helsinki, Espoo

Spend a few days enjoying interesting sights of Helsinki, city called “Daughter of the Baltic Sea”. Taste local food as a guest of a local host, feel the pureness of Finnish nature during a day outdoors in Nuuksio national park and take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with world famous Finnish brands like Marimekko fashion, Iittala glassware or the Moomins! Enjoy local life like the locals – a compact introduction to the Finnish way of life suitable for all seasons, sunny summer and crisp winter days alike.

Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival at Helsinki Airport in the afternoon. After immigration find the Finnair City Bus at stop nr 10 just outside arrival level at Terminal T2. The bus will take you to Elielinaukio Square at Helsinki Central Station in 35 minutes. A short 10 minute walk to your first class downtown hotel. We will confirm the hotel after your booking.

You can start your holiday by tasting something very typically Finnish: a “Korvapuusti” cinnamon bun with a cup of coffee or tea at a traditional coffee shop Café Esplanad on one of the main shopping streets, the Esplanade. (Address: Pohjois-Esplanadi 37, open daily until 21.00 hrs).

There are many types of restaurants, Finnish, Western or Asian, where you can buy dinner according to your fancy.

DAY 2

Full buffet breakfast at your hotel. We suggest a morning stroll along the Esplanade to the Market Square, Kauppatori, by the harbor. Also worth visiting is the old restored Market Hall and checking out the Senate Square and majestic Helsinki Cathedral, just one block north from the Market Square.

10.00
Pick up your Helsinki Card (48hrs, Helsinki Regional) from the Strömma desk in the Visit Helsinki Information office on the corner of the Market Square (Pohjois-Esplanadi street nr 19). The Helsinki Card enables you to use all public transportation within Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen and Vantaa region free of charge 48hrs starting from the first time you use it. It also gives you free or discounted entrance to many attractions and museums. An information leaflet with more specific instructions will be given with the card.

10.45Present your Helsinki Card at the Sightseeing Bus Stop of Fabianinkatu Street in the middle of the Esplanade Park for a free city tour.

11.00
An audio guided (several languages including English, Chinese and Japanese) Helsinki Panorama Sightseeing city tour starts from Fabianinkatu Street tourist bus stop. The comfortable double decker tour bus is air conditioned and heated (during winter) and has a free Wi-Fi. During the 1, 5 hour city tour you will drive past the main sights of Helsinki and hear interesting stories behind them. There will be a short stop at the famous Temppeliaukio Church, excavated in rock as well as the Sibelius Monument before the tour ends at the Esplanade Park.

12.30
You have time to explore the main shopping streets Esplanade with brand shops and Aleksanterinkatu Street as well as Mannerheimintie Street where you will find bigger malls like Kämp Galleria or Forum as well as the Stockmann department store.

In the afternoon you have a chance to visit many museums or attractions included in the Helsinki Card program, either with free or discounted entrance. Please, refer to the Helsinki Card leaflet for details.

17.00
Time to prepare for a home dinner as a guest of a local host! We will provide you with the address as well as the instructions how to reach the host’s home by a bus, a tram or a commuter train in case you prefer using the well-functioning public transportation instead of a taxi. All the venues for home dinners are located within the metropolitan Helsinki. (Public transportation is included in the package price but a taxi is extra charge and will be paid directly by the customer in the taxi).

18.00
Enjoy a home cooked dinner at the home of your dedicated Finnish host. They will welcome and entertain you during the approximately 2-3 hours private 3-course dinner. The service language is English.

21.00
Return to your hotel and overnight.

DAY 3

Full buffet breakfast at your hotel. Put on your outdoor clothes and good walking shoes. Remember to also take your Helsinki Card with you for free rides on public transportation trains and buses! In case you prefer taking a taxi (extra cost to be paid directly on spot by the customer), please calculate a 45 minutes ride and a cost of approximately 40 euros/one way.

08.30 – 09.00
Take either a E-, L- or U-commuter train from Helsinki Central Station to “Espoo” station (20-25 minutes train journey, departures from Helsinki Central Station every 10-15 minutes).

09.40
Take bus number 85 (or 85A) from the “Espoo” station (platform 32).

10.00
Get off at “Solvalla” stop, just outside the Haltia Nature Center.

10.00
Report at the Haltia reception for a guided tour at the nature Exhibition (1 hour tour in English).

12.00
Pick-up at Haltia reception by a representative of Green Window, car drive to Kattila (6 kilometers) at the Nuuksio National Park.

12.15
An outdoors program consisting of a nature walk (max 2,5 hours) passing by different types of forest, rocks, lake shore and beautiful landscapes. Your host will match the walk with local conditions (time of year, weather) and your interests. Rain gear and booths are available if needed.

15.00
A snack of flame grilled salmon sandwich and a coffee ceremony at a teepee or outdoors by a fire.

15.30
Car transportation by Green Window representative to the nearest bus stop (lines 85 and 85A) for a connection to “Espoo” train station and further to commuter trains from Espoo back to Helsinki.

19.00Dinner in Kaarna Baari & Keittiö restaurant, located in the heart of Helsinki (Address: Mannerheimintie 20). The restaurant offers Finnish food with a Nordic twist. The 3-course set menu consists of simple dishes that have distinct flavours and are made of local, fresh ingredients. You can choose between three alternatives on each course and one drink (soft drink, Finnish beer or glass of house wine) is included.

Walk back to your hotel and overnight.

DAY 4

Full buffet breakfast at your hotel. We suggest storing your luggage at the hotel reception upon check-out. Free time to explore more sights of Helsinki or do some last minute shopping before picking up your luggage from the hotel and proceeding to the Elielinaukio Square next to the Central Railway Station.

We suggest arriving to the airport latest 1, 5 hours before your flight departure, even if you have already checked in. Show your boarding pass at the security control in order to access the international departure area. Please remember the security rules for hand luggage. There is a good choice of shops and restaurants in the departure area. Have a good flight and welcome back to Finland soon!

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About us

Finland Tours / Primera Holidays Oy (Limited company) is accredited by Visit Finland and appointed as commercial operator to create, promote and sell Tour Packages. We work in partnership with Finnair, the largest airline of Finland.